Fortune magazine reported (November 9, 2026) that nearly one-in-five employed US adults surveyed by talent assessment firm SHL said their employer had replaced them with AI and later asked them to return.
SHL calls the pattern “AI rebounding.”
Tech writers have heard plenty of predictions over the years about AI replacing their jobs. These survey results offer a reason to examine what employers may overlook when deciding which work to automate.
What The Surveys Found
SHL surveyed 2,036 employed adults (in the US and UK) in June and July of 2026. Among US respondents, 19.1% said they had been replaced by AI and later asked to return by the same employer. Across both countries the figure was 16%. SHL also asked what workers would want if asked back: 51% said a substantial raise, 42% said written job-security guarantees, and 40% said transparency about how AI would be used in their role.